Global Prospects for Active Citizenship

Paper $45.95ISBN: 9781447316947
Published
February 2017
For sale in North and South America only

Cloth $116.00ISBN: 9781447316916
Published
September 2015
For sale in North and South America only

The third sector, or the voluntary, civic sector of society, is taking on increasing prominence in the face of retrenchment, austerity, and decreasing confidence in government. This book is the first to offer an up-close look at the relationship between active citizenship and civil society and how that relates to third-sector activities. Drawing on a wide range of theory and case studies, the book explores questions of social connectedness, changing forms of political engagement, and the increasing complexity of the social and environmental problems that the third sector confronts. It will be invaluable for theorists, scholars, and organizers.

Introduction Civil society and the third sector Active citizenship Third sector organisations nurturing active citizenship: the claims The third sector in context Active citizenship as civil commitment Active citizenship as civil commitment: cultural considerations Active citizenship as activism: political engagement through the third sector Active citizens, social movements and social transformation Active citizenship and the emergence of networks Shifting paradigms W(h)ither the third sector?

"Challenging the Third Sector shows great attention to detail, nuance, and context. The authors do not assume that third sector organizations are automatically 'good' for democracy and social justice. They highlight important challenges that organizations face in promoting active citizenship across various locales. . . . [This book] will be a useful resource both theoretically and empirically for readers interested in the pressures of globalization on the third sector and citizens."

Gary Craig, Durham University

"At a time when the Third Sector globally is facing a perfect (political) storm, this world-leading team of writers analyse the pressures facing it and its uneven responses. They demonstrate that there are no easy ways forward."

Nicholas Deakin, University of Birmingham

"This valuable new collection, drawing on much empirical evidence, shows how the third sector can be nurtured by active citizenship."

Paul Dekker, Tilburg University, the Netherlands

"A broad and pleasantly written approach of the third sector and civil society in an emancipatory perspective. Recommended for both freshmen in the field and practitioners looking for theoretical refreshment."

For more information, or to order this book, please visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu